Are you half packed for your trip to Bocas Del Toro in Panama? Well, before anything else, there's some congratulating in order. After all, you not only chose one of the best vacation places in Central America, you also picked a nice time to go. Imagine being in a place where you can find the most fabulous beaches in the Caribbean, like the well-known Red Frog Beach (yes, there are still red frogs there, too), where you can scuba, snorkel, kayak, and do whatever you can and want to do in the water, while at the same time being striking distance to extreme sports arenas for mountain biking or just zip-lining through the jungle canopy. The nightlife isn't bad, either. In Bocas Town, you can find good food, dancing, and maybe a few drinks to wrap up the day.
Put another way, Bocas offers everything you would expect to find on an Aruban beach vacation as well as everything you would expect to see at a Costa Rican jungle resort. The best part? Bocas is surprisingly inexpensive. Standard rooms are available for less than $50 a night at quite a few places in Bocas Town, and you'll have to work hard to spend more than $20 on dinner for two.
There is really no need to sell you on the idea of going there, is there? There are, however, some things that you may find useful to know if you're new to Bocas Del Toro:
1) There is a lot of picture-perfect underwater scenery that you can enjoy, and sometimes, memories just don't do these enough justice. Having an underwater camera (even just the disposable ones) will come in handy. You might find a few being sold in the area but these can get pricey, so it would be better to bring your own. It's better to be safe than sorry, so bring an underwater camera.
2) Pack shorts and a good pair of sandals. The main island in Bocas is just a little too small for taxi service, so you can expect to walk quite a bit in and around Bocas Town. North Americans should also remember to bring shorts - the temperature in Bocas hovers around 90 degrees Fahrenheit year round with a fair amount of humidity. The sea breeze keeps things cool at night, but during the day long pants are uncomfortable.
3) Have money to burn (or at least, spend), and US dollars are the way to go. All establishments in Bocas accept U.S. dollars, and the exchange rate is exactly one dollar to one Balboa (not Rocky - that's what the Panamanians call their currency). In other words, Panama uses the U.S. Dollar as the official currency - no exchange needed.
4) No, you don't have to bring bottled water from your home country to Bocas del Toro, but once you get there, it's better to err in the side of caution and always have one with you. These are available everywhere, and the price is pretty low, especially if you consider your health. Tap water in the area comes from rainwater, and though they're generally safe, you'll never know where those clouds have been!
5) All you need is a passport. Anyone visiting Panama from the USA or Canada is automatically granted a 30 day visa upon entering the country with a valid passport. Panama does require that visitors purchase a tourist stamp, which costs $8 to $12 depending on your port of entry. If you're interested in staying more than 30 days, extensions are very easy to come by. Your driver's license is required if you rent a car, but there's little need to do so in Bocas.
6) On beach days, be sure to pack a lunch. When you get to Bocas, make a trip to the store and stock up on some basic foodstuffs before hitting the beaches. Most because can only be reached by boat (technically a water taxi), so you want to bring food with you because there won't be anyone at the beach selling snacks. Always have water with you, and why not pack up some Balboa too (Balboa is a solid local beer in Panama).
7) The two major languages used in Bocas are English and Spanish. If you speak either language, then you're in good shape. If you don't, a phrase book or two would be a good idea.
8) Staying in contact with home is easy. Bocas has multiple internet cafes where computers can be rented for less than $3 per hour. Many of these internet cafes offer free VOIP calls to the USA or Canada, so staying in touch with friends and family is simple. For anyone considering an extended stay, pre-paid cell phones are easy to find.
9) Cross the border and visit Costa Rica. It's not that Costa Rica is very different from Panama (unless of course you go a lot further into the Costa Rican jungles), but a quick hope to Costa Rica is a great way to get another stamp on your passport. Costa Rica is only about an hour away, and there are day tours which will take you into the jungle in Costa Rica. You can be back in Panama by nightfall or the next morning.
10) Pack some extra patience. There's nothing fast-paced about Bocas. No one is in a rush, and everything takes just a little bit longer than it should. Understand that when your waitress ignores you for 5 minutes it's nothing personal or mean-spirited - it's just a different way of living. If you're in a rush you might be disappointed, so be sure to plan for delays. Besides, you're on vacation! Enjoy the island life.
Those are the things that I brought along with me to Bocas Del Toro for my vacation, and it helped me enjoy myself. I hope that these 10 tips will be of help to you too. - 31515
Put another way, Bocas offers everything you would expect to find on an Aruban beach vacation as well as everything you would expect to see at a Costa Rican jungle resort. The best part? Bocas is surprisingly inexpensive. Standard rooms are available for less than $50 a night at quite a few places in Bocas Town, and you'll have to work hard to spend more than $20 on dinner for two.
There is really no need to sell you on the idea of going there, is there? There are, however, some things that you may find useful to know if you're new to Bocas Del Toro:
1) There is a lot of picture-perfect underwater scenery that you can enjoy, and sometimes, memories just don't do these enough justice. Having an underwater camera (even just the disposable ones) will come in handy. You might find a few being sold in the area but these can get pricey, so it would be better to bring your own. It's better to be safe than sorry, so bring an underwater camera.
2) Pack shorts and a good pair of sandals. The main island in Bocas is just a little too small for taxi service, so you can expect to walk quite a bit in and around Bocas Town. North Americans should also remember to bring shorts - the temperature in Bocas hovers around 90 degrees Fahrenheit year round with a fair amount of humidity. The sea breeze keeps things cool at night, but during the day long pants are uncomfortable.
3) Have money to burn (or at least, spend), and US dollars are the way to go. All establishments in Bocas accept U.S. dollars, and the exchange rate is exactly one dollar to one Balboa (not Rocky - that's what the Panamanians call their currency). In other words, Panama uses the U.S. Dollar as the official currency - no exchange needed.
4) No, you don't have to bring bottled water from your home country to Bocas del Toro, but once you get there, it's better to err in the side of caution and always have one with you. These are available everywhere, and the price is pretty low, especially if you consider your health. Tap water in the area comes from rainwater, and though they're generally safe, you'll never know where those clouds have been!
5) All you need is a passport. Anyone visiting Panama from the USA or Canada is automatically granted a 30 day visa upon entering the country with a valid passport. Panama does require that visitors purchase a tourist stamp, which costs $8 to $12 depending on your port of entry. If you're interested in staying more than 30 days, extensions are very easy to come by. Your driver's license is required if you rent a car, but there's little need to do so in Bocas.
6) On beach days, be sure to pack a lunch. When you get to Bocas, make a trip to the store and stock up on some basic foodstuffs before hitting the beaches. Most because can only be reached by boat (technically a water taxi), so you want to bring food with you because there won't be anyone at the beach selling snacks. Always have water with you, and why not pack up some Balboa too (Balboa is a solid local beer in Panama).
7) The two major languages used in Bocas are English and Spanish. If you speak either language, then you're in good shape. If you don't, a phrase book or two would be a good idea.
8) Staying in contact with home is easy. Bocas has multiple internet cafes where computers can be rented for less than $3 per hour. Many of these internet cafes offer free VOIP calls to the USA or Canada, so staying in touch with friends and family is simple. For anyone considering an extended stay, pre-paid cell phones are easy to find.
9) Cross the border and visit Costa Rica. It's not that Costa Rica is very different from Panama (unless of course you go a lot further into the Costa Rican jungles), but a quick hope to Costa Rica is a great way to get another stamp on your passport. Costa Rica is only about an hour away, and there are day tours which will take you into the jungle in Costa Rica. You can be back in Panama by nightfall or the next morning.
10) Pack some extra patience. There's nothing fast-paced about Bocas. No one is in a rush, and everything takes just a little bit longer than it should. Understand that when your waitress ignores you for 5 minutes it's nothing personal or mean-spirited - it's just a different way of living. If you're in a rush you might be disappointed, so be sure to plan for delays. Besides, you're on vacation! Enjoy the island life.
Those are the things that I brought along with me to Bocas Del Toro for my vacation, and it helped me enjoy myself. I hope that these 10 tips will be of help to you too. - 31515
About the Author:
The author Jason Lancaster has spent some quality time in Panama and knows a thing or two about Bocas del Toro. Find out more about Bocas del Toro bars and restaurants.
